LOS ANGELES _ Kenley Jansen's standing on the Dodgers remains cemented. He is the team's undisputed closer entering Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. His teammates and manager insist they are confident in him even after a turbulent regular season. Jansen has maintained his confidence has not wavered in his role.
But Jansen will not be asked to replicate the workload he shouldered during last year's long playoff run, manager Dave Roberts said before his club's workout at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday evening. Jansen logged 16 2/3 innings in 13 appearances serving as the bullpen's anchor last October. Others will be asked to assume more responsibility this autumn.
"I would say that was pretty intense last year," Roberts said. "I would take the under on the workload compared to last year ... Every game is going to dictate (the situation). But I do like the guys that we have around him in the 'pen. But to see him try to do what he did last year, unlikely."
Jansen's regular season concluded on a sour note in Monday's division title tiebreaker. He gave up home runs to the first two batters he faced before securing the three outs needed to seal the Dodgers' sixth straight division title. It was a reminder of Jansen's mortality this season, which he ended with the highest ERA of his career. Roberts said he plans on speaking with his closer before Game 1.
"My confidence level is high, and my expectation for him to pitch well in this big series is the same, as it has been the last three years," Roberts said.
"He's shown to perform on this stage, in this environment. And that's what I'm going to pull from, and I'm going to encourage him to pull from. So I know that Kenley is a very confident player, so I don't think that's a concern of his, and it's not mine either ... I'm going to talk to him and just confirm that he's in a good head space, which I expect he is."
